Ala Moana Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for our stretch of coast.

To be straight with you, this outlook is a bit of a slow burner. For the first week and a half, we’ve got swell, but the conditions are just not playing ball. The wind is a constant cross-off breeze from the ENE, blowing at 18 to 25 mph, which is a bit of a grunt to deal with. The swell direction is also coming from the ENE, which isn’t what this spot really wants to see for those classic waves. The combined energy is moderate (values between 354 and 858), but the quality is poor, so it’s a lot of wind-affected, lumpy lines. Honestly, from Wednesday 8th July right through to Sunday 19th July, it’s a pretty long stretch of days where I'm not getting too excited. The surf will be out there, but it’s going to be a struggle. A couple of mornings around Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July show some marginal potential with slightly bigger swell around 7.5ft and 6.9ft, but still with that tricky cross-off wind, it’s a gamble.

Now, the real light at the end of the tunnel arrives around Monday 20th July. The swell direction swings around to the south, which is exactly what Ala Moana Bowls wants to see (optimum direction is SSE). The period jumps right up to 15 seconds – that’s some proper long-period groundswell energy. The swell height is a bit smaller, at 3.6ft, but that long period will pack a punch and shape up nicely on that reef. The combined energy is strong, hitting 864 to 878.

The standout moment, and the one I’d circle on your calendar, is Tuesday 21st July and Wednesday 22nd July. On Tuesday, the swell drops a touch in height to 2.6ft, but the period stretches out to a very long 18 seconds, and the direction is perfect easterly. The combined energy is very strong, with values of 1185. The wind relaxes to a moderate breeze of 15 mph on the Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday 22nd, the swell bumps back up to 3.6ft with a 16-second period, and the energy is even higher at 1266. The water temp is sitting at 79.5° which is typical for this time of year, so no surprises there. This is going to be clean, lined-up, and special. Keep in mind, with that long period, the sets will be a bit more spaced out, but the paddle out will be easier, and the ride will be worth the wait. The crowds here can be an issue, so get in early.

Read more